Chapter 4

Disclaimer: Not mine; J.K. Rowling's.

Draco awoke from his unconscious state in confusion. He recognised the Granger's living room and was lying, rather uncomfortably, on the hard wooden floor. His hand flew to the back of his head in an attempt to comfort a throbbing bump that had appeared.

"Oh, Draco, I am so sorry! I had no idea you were a wizard and I just came into the room and I didn't know what to do. Hermione is the only person to ever use the fireplace like that so I thought you were a Death-Eater or something like that. I mean, I thought that was strange because the war ended years ago, but still. I was holding a pan - I was making pancakes, you see - and my hands acted of their own accord. Are you okay? Would you like anything? A panadol? An ice-pack? A glass of water? Or perhaps something stronger? My husband has some spirits somewhere, I'm sure, if I can remember correctly..." Mrs Monica Wilkins had begun on one of her famous worrying rants, crouched over Draco's body with anxiety.

"I'm fine, really. Don't worry about it. The fault was all mine. I shouldn't have just floo in unexpected like that," Draco said with an attempt at a smile despite the pain of his head.

During her mother's ramblings, Hermione was hidden from Draco's sight. As Monica finally moved away to find a source of strong alcohol for Draco's non-existent nerves, he set eyes on the woman who had so recently stormed into his life.

She smiled down at him and commented with a laugh, "Who knew? I didn't need to move my parents to Australia. My mother could've defeated Voldemort himself with just kitchen utensils."

Draco laughed in reply but it soon morphed into a groan as the movement was causing extra pain. He could see the worry in Hermione's eyes before she whipped out her wand from her jacket pocket. She began muttering healing incantations, occasionally tapping Draco's sore head with her trusty wand. Soon, he felt the pain edge away and not even the remnant of a headache was left behind.

'Granger, of course, knows all the perfect healing spells,' the young Malfoy thought with a smirk.

"It's not that I'm unhappy with your visit, but was there, perhaps, a reason behind the drastic efforts of such a swift arrival?" enquired Hermione.

Draco, raising up to a sitting position, felt for the paper he had brought with him from his jeans pocket. He was pleased with his decision of placing an expandable charm on all his favourite clothes' pockets. He silently passed the Daily Prophet to the vivacious brunette and looked at her, awaiting her reaction. He didn't have to wait for long, her eyes rapidly covering the front page of the famous newspaper.

"Oh, no, no, no, no..." Hermione quietly said under her breath, more to herself than to Malfoy.

"Was this of your doing?" she asked, worry and anger imminent in her tone.

'Have I put too much trust into a past enemy? Has he really changed that much? This is evidence that alcohol is never a good idea; it puts me off my instincts,' thought Hermione.

Draco was astounded at her insolence. He may have been a git in the past but surely he had proven himself different since then. Hadn't he been the one who had gone all the way to muggle Australia to avoid the bloody press?

"No, of course not! Why would I?" Draco was not happy with this turn of events.

"Well, I wouldn't put it past you. You haven't got a great track record of gentlemanly behaviour, have you? I can't believe I trusted you. This was all some great trick, wasn't it?!" Hermione Granger did not like to be pulled one over by a stupid arrogant Slytherin with a death wish.

"Oh, piss off, Granger. I've changed and grown up since the war. I can't say the same for you and your stuck-up presumptuous ways. Need I remind you that I came here to inform you of this, our liaison on the front page of the stupid Prophet?" Draco, without a second glance at Hermione, strode towards the front door of the modest house.

She heard the front door slam, an indication of Malfoy's leaving. Hermione slumped into her favourite armchair and attempted to clear her mind. She realised she had been prejudiced about Draco and regretted what she said immediately. She death-gripped the paper and glared at the magical, moving photograph of her and her ex-peer.

Her parents came into the room, having keeping their distance whilst Hermione and Draco were fighting. One look at their daughter's face and they knew that they should leave her be and that she wished to be alone. They silently crept out of the living room without a word.

Hermione read aloud in outrage the repulsive article that was far too open and presumptuous for a piece of publicity;

"Golden-girl, Hermione Granger, head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, was seen with Draco Malfoy, rich and handsome assumed recluse, last night at the Leaky Cauldron. There is solid evidence that Miss Granger left with Mr Malfoy and that they both went to Malfoy Manor after their night on the town, presumably to spend the night together. After Miss Granger's relationship with professional quiddich player, Ron Weasley, ended last year, it was unknown of the identity of her new beau. Is Mr Malfoy her new boyfriend? Hermione Granger is the only girl to have successfully tempted Draco Malfoy out of reclusion in the last few years. Would we be correct in assuming that wedding-bells will be heard in the near future? More on page 4."

The brunette scoffed in outrage. She felt terrible and held in the frustrated tears that were threatening to pour down her pale cheeks. If there was anything that made this strong woman cry it was the unpleasant feeling of frustration.

Standing up with a renewed sense of determination, Hermione began to get things straight in her mind. These were the facts she was sure of; Malfoy was unnecessarily absconded for something he didn't do, the Daily Prophet were going to pay and her friends were going to need an explanation and quick.

Her and Ron had dated for a while - far too long than they should have, really - but, ultimately it didn't work out. They were much better off as friends and were both mutually happy with the decision to break-up. He was currently going out with the ever impressive Lavender Brown. That didn't, by any means, meant that he would be totally fine with seeing the front page of the Daily Prophet that morning.

A tap at a nearby window announced the arrival of a beautiful owl that she quickly recognised as Harry's. Hermione opened the window and stroked the bird as it gave her a letter. It read as follows:

Dear Hermione,

How's Australia going?

We are all confused and slightly concerned by the news of today's edition of the Daily Prophet. We assume there is a perfectly good explanation and will be eagerly waiting for your reply.

Love Harry, Ginny and Ron

P.S. All the Weasley clan say hello.

Hermione knew not to underestimate the understanding of her friends. They knew that the media was often wrong in most, if not all, of the facts, and have experienced this firsthand. She scribbled a short reply that stated that she had met Malfoy here in Australia, it's not as bad as it seems, she not getting married to him and that she'd explain more later. Hermione tied it to the owls leg and she saw it fly away and become a dot in the sky.

The Daily Prophet was going to have to wait for her revenge for a while because she felt that Draco deserved an apology first. She yelled out to her parents that she was going out before apparating to a side street near the cafe that she had only recently visited.

Striding into Adriana's, she was quick to notice that the youngest (and in fact only alive) Malfoy was not there. Her friend and owner of said cafe was present, however.

"Hermione, Hey! How was the rest of your night?" she inquired with a wink.

"Ah, good. Thanks. Draco doesn't seem to be in so I, ah, will be off. Nice seeing you." Hermione started to make her way out of the building but was stopped by Adriana's voice.

"He lives just down the block, you know. I could give you his address, if you like..." Adriana suggestively offered. She was going to stick with her wish to set up Hermione and Draco, if only to push them in the right direction.

Hermione considered it for a second before nodding and getting the address of Adriana. Taking into account that Malfoy lived so close, Hermione could see that it probably wouldn't hurt.

Hermione nervously bit her lip in anticipation as she ascended the short flight of stairs to the front door of the apartment block in which Malfoy resided. She was readying herself to buzz the button that corresponded with Draco's apartment when a middle-aged woman was exiting the door in front of her. She kindly opened the door for her and smiled at her when leaving. Hermione was thankful she could talk to Malfoy face to face first instead of awkwardly trying to apologise over the apartment intercom.

After the surprisingly long elevator ride, Hermione reached to the penthouse apartment, her apology cake that she had bought from Adriana's loaded in her hands. She waited in the small lobby for just a moment before knocking on the door to Malfoy's living space.

Draco was sitting watching a rerun of the Mentalist on his impressively large television screen when he heard the knock at the door. He assumed that it was Sam, who often popped over to his apartment, it being much larger and well-stoked with food and alcohol than his own. He thought it strange that Sam didn't just walk in, like he normally did, but didn't think much of it.

"Come on in, mate," Draco yelled over Simon Baker's voice that was coming from his technological best friend. (A/N: In case you aren't a Mentalist fan, Simon Baker is the leading -and very charming- actor)

Hermione awkwardly opened the door whilst still trying to balance the cake box after hearing Draco's permission to enter. She gasped at the beautiful apartment which graced her eyes once entering. Draco had his back to her, watching one of her favourite TV shows.

"Hey Sam, I'm beginning to think you should contribute to my grocery bill with the amount you consume on a regular basis," Draco joked to the person who he assumed was Sam behind him.

"Could you grab me a beer while you're up?" Draco requested.

The living room and the kitchen were in the same spacious room so Hermione could spot the fridge from where she was standing. She placed the red velvet cake she had purchased (Draco's favourite, according to Adriana) on the marble kitchen bench and fetched a beer for Draco from the fridge. She let out a deep, refreshing breath before walking over to the couch with Draco on it and sitting down beside him.

Still with his eyes connected to the LCD TV, Hermione passed Draco his ice-cold beer. He glanced over to the figure sitting beside him and spoke, "Thanks ma-a-, Hermione!" Draco suddenly sit up straighter with the surprise when he realised it wasn't Sam. He stared at her for a moment, trying to get over the startle.

Before the handsome blonde could open his mouth to speak again, Hermione apologised. "I'm so sorry, Draco. I was out of line earlier and was just misplacing my anger on you. You have to understand that it's hard to get over how different your character is from before..."

Draco couldn't resist from forgiving Hermione when she looked so embarrassed (and sexy, but mostly the embarrassment).

"It's okay," he said softly as he brushed the hair out of her face and looked deep into her brown eyes. This had the immediate result of making Hermione's cheeks' flush. He gently kissed her lips and when the couple eventually pulled apart, they were smiling.

"Anyway, this article is going to aggravate your life much more than mine," Draco couldn't help but saying with a smirk. The lively witch beside him smacked him playfully on the arm in return.

But Draco was wrong. Boy, was he wrong.